Chapter 147: Demiurge's Objective
Having just survived the close call, Ainz was already starting to feel a little ashamed of himself.
Pathetic.
He thought it quietly.
Demiurge was the one who had gone to the trouble of devising the plan. Pandora was the one who had gone to the trouble of executing it.
I didn't do anything.
And yet everyone thinks it was my doing.
But Ainz had grown somewhat accustomed to this particular feeling, and he settled back into composure quickly.
"Demiurge." Ainz decided the more pressing matter was getting clear on what Demiurge was actually working toward. "Continue explaining to Aura and Mare."
"Yes, Ainz-sama."
Demiurge gave a slight nod, his attention shifting to Aura and Mare.
"Ainz-sama's plans never have only one objective."
He raised one finger and began his analysis.
"For Nazarick, the greatest threat remains the dragon of unknown identity."
Demiurge opened by laying out the primary need that the "capital collapse operation" had been designed to address.
"The first purpose of this operation was to confirm whether or not that dragon has any connection to the Kingdom."
He paused, his gaze moving across everyone present.
"The result is already clear."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"Even with the capital on the verge of collapse, the dragon did not appear."
"Which proves the Kingdom and that dragon have no meaningful connection — or at least, not a significant one."
Aura, sitting on Ainz's right thigh bone, let a dawning understanding cross her face. Mare gave a quiet nod beside her, wearing an expression that said of course.
Albedo, standing behind the throne, was still quietly aggrieved about the seating situation — but she gave a slight nod of her own, acknowledging the soundness of the analysis.
Ainz sat composed, and nodded as well, with the measured air of a superior affirming something from a higher level of understanding.
So that's it, he thought privately. Demiurge made all that noise just to test whether the dragon had ties to the Kingdom.
Demiurge continued.
"The second element was Ainz-sama's instruction for the Wrath Demon General to state the reason for his appearance in the capital."
He pushed his glasses up.
"First: he was drawn here by a malevolent ritual conducted by Eight Fingers' remnants."
"Second: he came searching for his vampire companion, Honyopenyoko."
Ainz internally made a noise that didn't quite have words.
When did I ever give the Wrath Demon General those lines? I had no idea any of that was in the script.
Ainz closed his jaw and worked to maintain the expression of someone for whom all of this was entirely expected.
The sense of having been caught out was pressing close to the surface.
Demiurge, apparently noticing none of this, continued his analysis with evident admiration for Ainz-sama's wisdom.
"The first reason establishes the narrative logic for why a Demon Lord would descend on the capital."
He raised a second finger.
"The second is the important message Ainz-sama needed to transmit through those lines."
The corner of Demiurge's mouth curved upward.
"Demon Lord Rashaelle and the vampire controlled by that dragon — they are companions."
Aura raised her hand, like a student in a classroom.
"Demiurge!" She voiced her confusion. "Doesn't that expose the fact that Shalltear has allies?"
Demiurge looked at her, and gave a slight smile.
"It does, yes."
He paused, his gaze passing over everyone in the room.
"But —"
A subtle quality entered his voice.
"As the adventurer who killed the Demon Lord who was the vampire's companion, Momon's identity is now completely clean."
Aura blinked. The confusion on her face faded degree by degree.
"Ah..." Aura murmured. "So Ainz-sama had the Demon Lord say that line on purpose."
"Precisely." Demiurge gave a slight nod. "If that dragon learns what spread through the capital, it will inevitably seek contact with Momon."
He turned to face Ainz.
"Ainz-sama's wisdom is truly something to admire."
Aura and Mare turned at the same moment, looking at Ainz with undisguised admiration.
"Lord Ainz is incredible!" The wonder in Aura's voice was complete.
"S-so incredible..." Mare echoed quietly.
Ainz sat through the praise without any outward disturbance.
...Ah, right, right. I did tell the Wrath Demon General to say that.
He sighed inwardly. At least he had gotten used to this rhythm by now.
He gave a slight nod, in the manner of someone saying this is merely one part of my plan:
"Continue, Demiurge."
"Yes, Ainz-sama."
Demiurge turned to face Aura and Mare again.
"Furthermore," he raised a third finger, "if the dragon does not seek contact with Momon —"
He let the hypothetical sit in the air for a moment.
"That tells us something equally useful."
"Either the dragon's location is too remote for the capital's news to reach it."
"Or the dragon is too cautious — even if it learns of the news, it won't act rashly."
Demiurge lowered his hand and clasped both behind his back.
Aura nodded vigorously, that youthful face written over with genuine admiration.
"Through the Wrath Demon General's dying words, Ainz-sama warned that a still greater power was coming — using that to pressure the dragon into making contact with Momon and cooperating with him."
Demiurge pushed his glasses up, a touch of regret entering his voice.
"If the dragon still doesn't take the bait, I'm afraid we'll need to stage several more performances."
"At the same time," Demiurge continued, "as the only fighting force in the capital capable of standing against the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth when he eventually arrives, the adventurer Momon will inevitably become a figure the Kingdom regards as indispensable."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"That, of course, is merely a secondary gain."
Ainz sat on his throne, and finally, he understood.
So that's it, he thought, tracing through it quietly.
First: test whether the dragon is operating in the Kingdom. Second: plant false intelligence — let the dragon believe Momon is an ally, draw it into making contact. Third: lay the groundwork for Momon to become a central figure within the Kingdom.
Three objectives from one move. How does Demiurge's mind even work?
Ainz found himself with something close to genuine awe for his Guardian.
But then, immediately after, a thought surfaced.
He recalled something.
If he had gone in person to play the Momon role in this operation —
A cold sweat ran through him.
"Demiurge." Ainz decided to test something.
"Yes, Ainz-sama." Demiurge responded immediately.
"Those script details..." Ainz chose his words. "Did you communicate them to Pandora in advance?"
Demiurge's calculating face took on a smile that carried its own particular weight.
"Of course not."
Ainz's jawbone parted slightly.
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